Firefighter, police training may be done at area center Regional academy is envisioned

Fire chiefs from Baltimore and Annapolis and those from Baltimore, Howard and Anne Arundel counties have already held talks on a regional fire academy.

Baltimore City and the counties involved in the discussion already have fire academies, though the facilities in the city and Baltimore County are outmoded. The idea of adding police training was raised at Tuesday's meeting of the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, made up of the chief executives of area subdivisions.

Anne Arundel County Executive Robert R. Neall, BMC chairman, said he would ask the county police chief to contact his counterparts to gauge interest in a regional police academy.

Charles Krautler, BMC executive director, said the Howard County fire chief is handling suggestions for a regional fire academy and has met with his counterparts.

Mr. Krautler said the idea emerged during a broad BMC discussion of ways to consolidate services in the area.

Mr. Neall also asked Mr. Krautler to start collecting information from such sources as the National Fire Academy in Thurmont.